Tingling in the cold Atlantic sea

I’ve said before that I am not a good sleeper, but in Ireland, in the little white house that faces the Atlantic, I slept and slept -slept in bed, on the sofa, on the beach, even once on the floor! The first few days after eight hours sleep each night, (unheard of for me) I still felt as though I was walking through mud, my body and mind were recuperating from the exhaustion that had built up from sleeping so badly in London all year. Being away from the city is definitely good for the soul and we were there for ten days. There was no noise except for rain and birdsong. There are rainbows, perhaps, two or three a day, sometimes more, which made me feel childish and excited and profound. The view from the house is spectacular – mountains and sea. The sunny days were sublime. The Atlantic sea was freezing (I screamed every time, I jumped in) but I swam and tingled all over when it was time to get out.  The swimming buoyed me up. We sailed to a pub and ate mussels, we fished for our supper and caught mackeral. There were dull cloudy grey days too, that were not so ideal.

Since I’ve been back in London, I’ve had three days of migraine and an average of five hours sleep a night. One night I couldn’t sleep because of a party in the street. I feel stressed and hyped up and neurotic. As I write a car alarm is going off. When we left for Ireland, the riots were in full swing and I was scared, the atmosphere was tense, we felt afraid. Terrified that our car would be smashed or a brick thrown through our window.

My son wants a dog and my daughter a pony.She rode in Ireland for 15 Euros for an hour. In London, the price is so much more, perhaps four times as much.

Do we move to the country? Or do we stay in London? The idea of moving makes me feel exhausted. Where to we start? How can I justify moving my daughter from her outstanding primary school? My son has to move anyway as he is going into year 6.

God…Sigh….

Photo from Freefoto.com

Kenkoh reflexology flipflops

I absolutely love love love shoes. I got married in bespoke Christian Louboutin, and used to buy  Stephane Kelian and Roger Clegerie in my carefree single days. These days my shoe collection is more Birkenstock, more flat/sensible, frankly boring. Recently  I discovered I had a bunion on my left foot. It’s ugly and it makes my foot wider. My doctor said it wasn’t nearly bad enough to do anything about and commented that her feet were worse, which seemed highly inappropriate. Not only do I have a bunion, but my feet have already grown a size after two pregnancies, so I can’t squeeze into my wedding shoes. I feel like an Ugly Sister.

I was asked to review Kenkoh and was sent a pair that looks like this, but mine have a pink sole. 

When I looked up Kenkoh Japanese flip flops up on the internet, I found they claim to cure all sorts of ailments such as:

• Sciatica	• Swollen ankles and lower legs
• Varicose veins	• Arthritis
• Fluid retention	• Hammer toes
• Bunions, callouses and warts	• Stress
• Insomnia	• Headaches
• Tiredness and lethargy	• Low mood

They are meant to work on your foot’s reflexology points and they do seem  to massage the feet. I wore them for just a little bit to get used to them, and then built up to wearing them all day. They are comfortable and do make you feel quite good, but after five or six hours, the thong between my toe began to hurt. Also a friend told me they were ugly which made me laugh. I don’t think they are ugly, but I think they are probably best for wearing around the house after a long hard day.

Saltpipe

Ever since my son was tiny, he’s had problems with feeling blocked and unable to breath through his nose and recently during the winters he has sinus pain- so much so that it’s become a way of life for him. When he was two or three he was plagued with constant ear infections and glue ear, and the doctors at my surgery could recommend nothing more than endless prescriptions for antibiotics. I didn’t want to give him antibiotics and so looked around for alternatives and was told that cranial osteopaths can cure glue ear. I tried three of four before finding one that really helped him. She also gave sensible advice such as giving him chicken soup when he’s not feeling well and to make sure he didn’t sit around with wet hair and to stay off dairy as much as possible as it’s mucous forming. He’s ten now and  although he’s grown out of ear infections and glue ear, her doesn’t often breathe through his nose, and often gets nosebleeds. Sometimes in the winter, it gets so bad, that he has to take days off school with sinus pain. A grown up friend described what it was like having sinus pain, the feeling of waking up feeling completely exhausted and leaden.

The other day someone offered me a Cisca Salt Pipe to try. It’s meant to work for all sorts of respiratory symptoms including hayfever and is 100% natural. Salt therapy is a well-established treatment.  For generations, people have visited Eastern and Central European salt mines and caves to cleanse their respiratory systems and relieve discomfort associated with allergies.  Sufferers would travel to the mines to simply sit and inhale airbourne salt particles.  Studies have shown this to be a highly effective natural and drug-free method of improving  respiratory function.

I was sent one in the shape of the elephant and my son Jude tried inhaling it  into the mouth and exhaling through the nose.  He also tried inhaling through each nostril. Although at first he was impatient to finish (you are meant to do it for 15 to 20 minutes )which is quite hard for a child, he did eventually settle down and breathe. The moisture of the moving air absorbs the microscopic particles of salt, allowing it to penetrate the entire respiratory tract.  It works by drawing excess fluid from the sinuses and cell lining, cleansing the nasal passages and opening the airways to relieve the main cause of congestion and irritation.  The salt has thinning effect on mucus.

He was loathe to admit that it worked, but did finally concede that he could breathe better although initially his sinuses hurt more he said. I am hoping it will work in the winter months when he is dogged by sinus pain.

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Happiness

We are just back from the Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall, followed by a day with some friends. The festival was magical, chaotic, crowded but not too crowded, fascinating, frustrating and inspiring.  The aspiring writers who came to my one to one workshops were lovely and so was the author I did the workshop with.  But packing up afterwards was a disaster – I forgot to bring back my £66 Mac charger, my watch and a red coat. It’s awful being back: The weather is dull and the summer seems to be slipping away. I want to be by the sunny seaside rather than at my desk in London. I really need to be more positive. Exactly a year ago, I remember a conversation I had around the campfire at the very same festival. It was about how to be happy.

Scientists at the university of California, discovered that success brings happiness but happiness also brings success.  Happy people share these qualities: They are very social, trusting, loving, energetic, decisive and creative. They also did tests, which included leaving money on a pavement. The ‘happy’ people picked it up, (we imagined it was because they were open to what was around them.) I would really like to be one of those happy, loving, trusting energetic people who can embrace the fact that the weather is grey and dull and not fret too much that my ten year old son was rude to my husband. I want to be loving when I think about the fact that I am going to spend the latter part of August on the West Coast of Ireland fishing for mackeral from a boat – this brings huge pleasure to my husband and son.

The things that make me happy are different than what they used to be fifteen years ago. In those days, staying up all night, falling in love, sleeping in, travelling, going to the cinema or out to dinner with friends made me happy. These days my happiness depends on getting an early night, keeping my marriage stable, not being woken at the crack of dawn, watching a dvd, having friends over for supper and hearing my children laugh.

These days it’s my health club rather than clubbing that makes me happy.  I don’t know how I would live in this dirty, busy, noisy city without my trips to the Park Club in Acton. Here at least I can breath, see some green fields, swim in the outdoor pool and let my children run around without constantly worrying about where they are. There is nothing more exciting than swimming in the outdoor heated pool while the snow falls down. I may sound dull, but other mothers will relate. Let me just work on being happy, loving, trusting and energetic now, but particularly on being decisive, I often find it hard to make a decision, don’t you?

What to pack for a Festival to make it that little bit better

It’s raining and it’s unseasonably cold, and we are meant to be going to the Port Eliot Festival this weekend. In fact there is no ‘meant’ about it, we are going to the Port Eliot Festival as I am committed to giving a workshop to aspiring writers at the Idler Tent. Last year was the second year I had ever been camping, but my first year at Port Eliot with the family – two children who are now 7 and 10. The ten-year-old loved it and begged to go again this year. We remembered the tent, the duvet and the mini cooker, but I had forgotten the ear-plugs and the eye mask. The sleeping pills were in my bag,  but where were the baby wipes? It was fun but I was dazed and confused for quite a few days afterwards.

My friend Za said to bring a bucket with a lid, for those emergencies in the night. Genius.

Here is my list of things to bring to a festival:

Tent, sleeping bags or duvets, eye mask, ear plugs, folding chairs and table, waterproofs, baby wipes, gas fire, sausages,bacon, baps, tea, wine, food-cooler, bottles of water, bucket with lid, towels, at least two torches (Make sure battery works), camera, warm pajamas, extra blankets, real pillows, sleeping pills, wellington boots or walking boots and a wind up radio and a really good book (perhaps my new book Seven Days one Summer she said immodestly) plus whatever your children need.

Also I’ve looked around and picked three new products that would be great for camping:

1. Multi Vitamins to keep your strength up: Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin vitality 2  come in tear off strips so you don’t have to pack the whole lot. It’s also meant to help with energy and brain function!!
2. Jane Iredale’s Magic Mitt a mitt that removes all make up using warm water only.
3. Environ Moisturising Toner that hydrates skin and removes last traces of makeup.
4. A really good dry shampoo – can anyone recommend one?

Just one last confession. We were going to camp right up to yesterday when I looked at the rain and chickened out and decided to borrow a friend’s cottage instead!

PMT – HELP

I’m not offering a solution here – I’m actually wondering if anyone has any tips to combat PMT?  I’ve just got through my worst ever bout, which included being depressed for more than a week, and then in the two days leading up to my period suffering from exhaustion, intense irritability, migraine, neck ache, stiffness, insomnia, a really bad temper and acute intolerance of my husband and children. It was really awful. I also felt kind of dazed yesterday, groggy and unreal. I also wondered what was the point of being a writer? What was the point of anything?

For a while I went to see a woman called Atsue who does a mixture of shiatzu, acupuncture and physio and it did work, but I had to keep going every month, and now she’s moved her clinic and it’s quite an expensive commitment.

Do supplements work? And which ones?  Any other tips?

You Woke Me UP!!!

My husband is very good at sleeping, but I am not. He can turn over and sleep anywhere, but I can wake in the night and stay awake for hours. If I go out for an evening and drink, particularly champagne, my heart will beat and I will not sleep, the same if I eat chocolate or if I eat too late or if I drink too much caffeine. In my time I’ve tried everything to help me sleep, from foul-tasting liquids, to aromatherapy massage, to acupuncture, exercise, lavender spray, anything. I found that Acem Meditation helped, but not always. All sorts of things wake me up, including my husband’s snoring or sitting up and drinking water, someone shouting in the street, a child coming into our room, the cat scratching at the door…

I am now trying, Saskia Flower Essences – I have to put seven drops under my tongue or could put it in my bath.

I am using Breathe Deep, Seek Peace –  For winding down and letting go

Apparently it helps people who have trouble falling asleep.

It Contains:

Rio Clarillo – to let go and wash away all those old feelings (These are their descriptions not mine!)
Bindweed – for untangling
Oak – just stop and be still
Speedwell – slow down, everything is as it should be
Wild Garlic – universal support/letting go of fears
Red Chestnut – stop worrying about others
White Chestnut – just let go of those thoughts

I have used it for three nights running and though I am still tired and probably been going to bed too late, I haven’t had trouble falling asleep.

I’ve also got Sexy and Gorgeous to try and Keep on Track!

Affirmations

I am feeling quite low today – slightly suffering from an anti climatic feeling after the publication of my novel, Seven Days One Summer. It just feels so hard to compete with the what seems like millions of other books that are coming out in time for summer. There is  also a mix up over the bill at the place where I had the book launch, which involves a friend, which has still not been settled. I was sitting at my desk, brooding, when this popped into my email box from: updates@meditainment.com

LIFE AFFIRMATION EXERCISE

Say out loud any of the following affirmations that seem to resonate with your life at this time.

• I accept life’s challenges
• I learn from every set-back and success
• I engage with the opportunities of today
• I live with passion and purpose
• I value the times of my past
• I treasure the unique story of my life
• I cherish the lives of others
• I give and receive friendship generously
• My life is precious and significant
• I defend what I know to be right
• I stand firm and without fear
• I see beauty in the universe
• I experience pleasure every day
• I permit myself to happiness
• I am glad to be alive
NOTES
In everyday thinking, there is often a background chatter of negative thoughts which undermines our self esteem. Positive affirmations are a simple way of balancing this.

I can – Dukan. Let’s all lose weight.

Everybody is on it – well not everybody obviously, but a great deal of people including famously, the ultimate mother of the bride – Carole Middleton, and  Jenni Murray veteran presenter from Woman’s Hour.  I’ve also got two girlfriends following it, and one husband of a girlfriend. When he opened the door to me the other day, I didn’t recognise him, he’d lost so much weight. The Dukan book is curently number six in the Amazon best seller list and it came out last year. There is a long thread on Mumsnet about it – it seems to work for most people, although there are a couple of Mums who are disgruntled because they have only lost a pound or two. They must be cheating. I defy anyone not to lose weight on this diet. There have been recent tweets on twitter about “scoring” the last fat free vanilla yoghurt at certain supermarkets, (a yummy staple of the Dukan diet) and it’s true, Rachael low fat yoghurts, are sometimes scarce. I first heard about the  diet, about three months ago, when my friend, Murphy  told me she’d shed two stone. I caught up with her at last and she looked amazing. I listened to her instructions and a little half heartedly it must be said, began to eat crabsticks, oatmeal, and slabs of steak and then after a few days gave up, tired and bored by the restrictions.  But the weight was piling on and lets face it, rolls of fat are ageing. Who wants a flabby arse and a bulging midriff? No one can convince me to embrace the bulges, I hate being overweight.  Don’t you?  It may sound superficial to but I was a skinny child, teenager, and woman in my twenties but since the end of my thirties I have changed shape and weigh far more than I could ever have imagined. Although my husband never actually said you’re looking fat and I don’t fancy you as much as I did when I met you, I could intuit that’s what he felt. The spread was spreading. I gave in (I think I was desperate)  and decided to commit properly and buy the book.

The Dukan is very easy to follow, and it basically cuts out carbs and steers you onto a low fat diet. The first few days are hard, and I found I was eating piles of the allowed protein foods – I felt tired and dizzy and kind of high.  I think I’ve been dieting on steak, fish, eggs and oatmeal for  two months and have lost 11 pounds, even though I have cheated with slabs of chocolate, or the odd piece of fruit, (not allowed until stage 3) or whatever takes my fancy. I find I relax a bit at weekends, and usually put a kilo back on – I’m sure I would be at my target by now if I had stuck rigorously to the rules.  My husband is proud of me, I am delighted, but it’s a long slog, and I’m still on stage 2 of the four stages that you are meant to commit to when you start.

Ultimately though, I really want to try and carry it forwards and stick to it. Stage 4 means including one protein day a week for life. But it’s worth it, because I’ve got my confidence back.  Why don’t you try it? If you don’t like it you have only lost the price of the book.

3D Perfect Brow Treatment

Since becoming a mother, my personal grooming is not what it used to be – not that it was ever perfect, but I certainly had more time in the old days.  Last night I had a big bash book launch for my new novel, Seven Days One Summer, and took the rare step of having a haircut and manicure/pedicure to boost me up, ready to face the real world. A week earlier I tried something even more radical – the 3D brow treatment at Tracie Gilles in London.

I have always had dark, unruly, eyebrows, but this treatment tidies them up, and makes them look as though they are permanently perfect with brow liner on them. The therapist finds the right pigment to match the shades of your hair skin and eyecolour and then the therapist, (I had Tarryn who is the top therapist with Tracie) mixes the pigment and then measuring your face draws on the perfect brows. I wanted a shape that would give my face a lift. The custom blended pigments are then infused into the skin, and although not exactly painful, at times, it was quite uncomfortable, as though you were having lots of brows plucked at the same time. The result is quite startling and for the first 24 hours the brows look weirdly unreal, in my case strangely dark. I looked a bit like a transvestite. The colour fades after a couple of days and then you are left with these amazing brows,(probably quite normal for a groomed woman) but in my case look as though they belong to a much more organised person than I am. The brows are retouched about a month after the treatment to keep them looking just right. What is so great about this treatment is that you can walk around feeling like a mess, but with these amazing immaculate eyebrows, you appear snappy and sharp, even if you don’t really feel it. Not exactly cheap, prices are from £495,but will last up to eighteen months and it’s worth it.